Swedes dont like root disturbance. I sow mine in paper pots, three seeds to a pot and thin out to the strongest seedling. When big enough I plant the complete pot, hence no root disturbance and no spaces due to lack of germination.The paper rots away in the soil.

I start my parsnips off on damp kitchen paper in a plastic tub on a warm window sill.when a small tail shows you know that seed ready for planting. Some people then carefully put them straight into the ground and some grow???them on in tubes for a while.???

Hello Alan4711 Turnips can be grown in plugs at the time stated on the packet. The reason for starting things off in plugs, root trainers etc. is that you can grow to a reasonable size before putting them in the ground. This stops slugs etc eating your seedlings before they produce good growth. Also they can be started off with protection from any frost.

You would be better off using root trainers or the cardboard inner of toilet rolls. Parsnips grow a long tap root fast and you should aim to get your plants in the ground before the root touches the bottom or they could fork. Also if using toilet roll inners you can plant the whole lot and there is no disturbance which parsnips dont like.